I knew my friend was in love. I think we’d known before she did, or at least before she admitted it to herself. It was still wonderful to see. Some part of my heart gave a silent tug of longing, which was something I wasn’t comfortable admitting to myself.
“That sounds lovely. Did you have an idea of where you’d like to have it or how many people you wanted to invite?” I reached for my phone, running through checklists in my head.
“Wait. There’s more.” Charlotte put her hand on my arm, calling my full attention. She seemed nervous—happy but definitely nervous.
“Go on.” I sat straighter and turned to face her.
Meredith mirrored my posture. “We’re here for whatever you need.”
“I was going to wait and tell you Saturday when we’re all together, but it seems silly to talk about the party without you knowing everything.” She took a deep breath and exhaled.
My pulse ticked up sympathetically. Across from me, Meredith looked like she was holding the breath Charlotte let out.
“In addition to getting the restaurant off the ground, he’s writing a cookbook. Before he digs into the recipes and testing—the design is going to be crazy demanding and take all of his attention—he wants to go away and recharge. To Costa Rica. For a month.” She paused, glancing from Meredith to me and back again.
“Can he take that kind of time away from the business now?” Meredith’s voice held a twinge of envy, along with concern.
I wondered if running the bakery made her feel squeezed. I filed the thought away to ask her about it later.
“The trip is inspiration for the cookbook, and he said it’s the only time he’ll be able to do it before things go crazy with the restaurant. The next bit is licenses, approvals, and demo. Most of it is waiting. The rest he can do remotely. His team and the contractor can handle everything else. You’re doing the interior.” She waved a hand in my direction.
I’d been blessed to have friends support my business. I’d never have been able to grow as quickly as I had without their help, starting with Erik letting me work on his house for the home tour. He’d agreed because he loved Alex, but it provided a much-needed boost for me. Having a chance to add restaurant design for a chef of Ford’s caliber to my portfolio felt like an abundance of riches. I’d work hard to make the space everything he wanted. It also made waiting on Mr. Essex’s project slightly more bearable.
“We’ll be back before any of those choices need to be made.” Charlotte watched me, her expression guarded.
“Are you worried about what will happen while he’s gone? A month isn’t that long, really. It’s not like you’ll forget each other. There’s always phone sex.” Calling attention to the sexy bits was usually Alex’s job. I felt the need to step in in her stead, and then it hit me. “Wait, you saidwe’llbe back.”
“I’m going with him.” She looked at us expectantly.
“For a month? What about your clients? Don’t you have court? Can you get out of that kind of thing?” I surprised myself both with the speed of my questions and the feelings her pronouncement pulled up in me.
Charlotte was imminently practical. She didn’t give up everything to run after a man. Hell, most of the reason it took her so long to admit she was in love with Ford was because of some mostly outdated—please, let them be outdated; the alternative was too depressing to entertain—ideas that loving a man ruined a woman’s career. Up until fifteen minutes ago, Ithought she’d managed to find the kind of balance I’d only seen with one other couple. Alex and Erik seemed to have worked out an arrangement that supported both of them.
It’s not that I didn’t believe it could happen or even that I was all that concerned about it. If I got to the point where I decided to marry and have a family, I kind of liked the idea of staying home at least part of the time with the children. I still had the two kids/white picket fence picture in my head. I knew that could work for some people. Maybe even for me. I wasn’t Charlotte.
Giving up her work to follow a man halfway around the world was everything she’d worried would happen.
“That’s exciting,” said Meredith, nothing if not eternally optimistic.
“It is,” I agreed.
I took a bite of my cupcake, licking toasted coconut icing off my fingers to avoid saying more. I had no intention of ruining Charlotte’s happiness. I didn’t hold her concerns either. At least not to the extent she did. I just worried if she wasn’t being true to herself, it might come back to bite her in the ass. Only she could know.
“I know it’s a big deal. Especially coming from me. I don’t know how to explain it.” She took a sip of her coffee; her lips curved in a smile over the rim. “I just know it’s right. It’s what I want to do. I can figure out the work stuff. I’m a badass, and I never take time off. The firm will give me a leave of absence. It’s in their best interest.”
“That sounds perfect then. I’m happy for you.” And I was. I’d ignore the twinge of something that felt too much like jealousy in favor of making sure my friend got what she needed.
“Oh, me too!” Meredith gave Charlotte’s hand a squeeze.
“Okay, so we’re planning aFord is awesome and Charlotte’s finding balancebon voyage party?” I said.
“Something like that,” said Charlotte, smiling for real now. “Honestly, I know it’s crazy. I have a hard time believing it myself, but I can’t think of anything better than spending a month alone with Ford, drinking fruity drinks, reading, and lounging wrapped around each other on the beach. Unless it’s spending more time than that.”
Meredith, the hopeful romantic—she made wedding cakes; it fit—let out a squeal of delight. Still grinning, I shook my head.
They were dropping like flies.
3
